For Emily
View chords used in this chart
Organization: M A G I C
Date: Sat, 18 Jun 1994 05:26:00 EST
Subject: TAB: For Emily, Wherever...
FOR EMILY, WHEREVER I MAY FIND HER
PAUL SIMON
Transcribed by: Erik_Davis@magic-bbs.corp.apple.com
Here's the way I've been playing it -- not an exact lift, but gets the feel
of the song, sounds amazing, and is surprisingly simple to play. It is
fingerpicked (somewhat hard to play with a flatpick, but possible if your
country claw has an even bass-treble volume ratio, and uses both the middle
and index to work the top strings. I personally think it sounds better
with fingerpicks or even bare fingers).
I play it on Capo III
THE CHORDS:
D5: xx0235
G5: xx0033
D: 200232
G: xx0033
Cmaj7: x32000
A: x02220
THE PICKING PATTERN:
B-2-(3+1)-2-B-2-(3+1)-2
Where B is the lowest bass note, as indicated in the above chord charts.
(3+1) indicates that the 3 and the 1 are plucked simultaneously. As you
may have guessed, all of the above strings get 1/8 note.
This pattern is consistent throughout the song
Intro: /D5/G5/D5/G5
THE SONG:
Intro: /D5.../G5.../D5.../G5.../
(D5) What a dream I had,(G) pressed in (Fig 1) organdy
(D) Clothed in crinoline (Cmaj7) of smokey burgandy
(G) Softer than the (A) rain
I wanderd empty streets, down past the shop display
I heard cathedral bells, tripping down the alley-way
As I walked on
And when you ran to me, your checks flushed with the night
We walked on frosted fields of juniper and lamplight
I held your hand
(instrumental)
And when I awoke and felt your warm and near
I kissed your honey hair, with my grateful tears
Oh I love you girl
(Cmaj7) Oh (G) how I love you (A) girl
THE FIGURES:
Each dash represents 1/16th note. I have tried to be exact in this to make
it easier.
s - strum
r - strum, with a slight ritard (normally notated by a wavy down arrow next
to the chord)
p - pluck
Fig 1:
p--> s
E|------------0---|
B|--3---3-----0---|
G|------------0---|
D|----------------|
A|----------------|
E|3---2---0-------|
Instrumental:
p s -->
p s-->
E|----5-----5-5-5-|--3---2---3-3-3-|----3-----3-3-3-|
B|----3-----3-3-3-|--3---3---3-3-3-|----3-----3-3-3-|
G|----2-----2-2-2-|--2---2---2-2-2-|----0-----0-0-0-|
D|0---0-----0-0-0-|--0---0---0-0-0-|----0-----0-0-0-|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|3---------------|
p--> s p s-->
p p
E|------------0---|----2-----2-2-3-|2-p-0-----------|
B|--3---3-----0---|----3-----3-3-3-|3-------3-------|
G|------------0---|----2-----2-2-2-|2-----------2---|
D|----------------|0---0-----0-0-0-|----------------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|
E|3---2---0-------|----------------|----------------|
r p-->
E|----------------|----------------|
B|0---2---0-------|0---------------| picking pattern resumes
G|0-----------4---|----4---2---0---| for last two measures of
instr:
D|2---------------|----------------| /G.../A.../ --> last verse
A|3---------------|----------------|
E|----------------|----------------|
There it is. Enjoy.
-- e
Erik_Davis@magic-bbs.corp.apple.com
How to play For Emily
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is A. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.